COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#119 Western Michigan Broncos

NATIONAL FORECAST

#119

MAC West PREDICTION

#5

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 119 Western Michigan.

Previewing Western Michigan’s Offense for 2014:

Name the position on Western Michigan’s offense, and second-year coach P.J. Fleck will explain the uncertainty surrounding it. And at almost every spot, the 33-year-old Fleck is expecting a freshman to challenge to start, or at least to play. It’s a product of having the MAC’s top-rated recruiting class join a program that finished last season 1–11. “I’ve never been on a team like this, where every job is open,” Fleck says.

That includes quarterback, where the competition is between sophomore Zach Terrell and incoming freshman Chance Stewart. A local product from Sturgis, Mich., the 6'6" Stewart is a pro-style quarterback who originally committed to Wisconsin. The less-heralded Terrell isn’t likely to give up the gig quietly. Little was expected of him as an injury sub last season. But Terrell’s first career pass went for a touchdown at Michigan State, and in passing for 1,602 yards and eight touchdowns, he wound up having a better year than oft-injured starter Tyler Van Tubbergen.

MAC Freshman of the Year Corey Davis gives WMU a go-to target. The 6'2" Davis, who Fleck says has added 10 pounds of muscle, caught 67 passes for 941 yards and six TDs in his first go-round. Second-leading receiver Kendrick Roberts (23 catches) also returns, but the Broncos’ second option this fall might be freshman Darius Phillips, redshirted last season for academic reasons. Phillips is considered the fastest player on the team.

Diminutive running back Dareyon Chance, last season’s leading rusher with 692 yards, was granted a medical redshirt for a fifth season. However, three touted true freshmen — Jarvion Franklin, Jamauri Bogan and Leo Ekwoge — are expected to be in the mix.

Whether they have anywhere to run will be up to an offensive line woefully short on depth. Four starters return, including junior center/guard James Kristof and junior left tackle Willie Beavers, but behind them is mostly a list of freshmen.

Previewing Western Michigan’s Defense for 2014:

The strength of the entire team is its secondary, a crew highlighted by All-MAC senior corner Donald Celiscar and hard-hitting senior safety Justin Currie, the MAC’s fourth-leading tackler in 2013. Celiscar and Currie accounted for six of the Broncos’ eight interceptions last season. Safety Rontavious Atkins started three games last season before a knee injury forced him to redshirt.

In front of this secondary, however, are a plethora of questions and youth, beginning at linebacker. There, WMU is counting on junior Devon Brant — coming off ACL surgery — in the middle.

Nose guard Richard Ash, a graduate transfer from Michigan, gives a defensive line heavy on freshmen and sophomores a needed infusion of experience and Big Ten beef.

Previewing Western Michigan's Specialists for 2014:

Amid these countless uncertainties, the Broncos catch a break on special teams, where placekicker Andrew Haldeman and punter J. Schroeder, both juniors, return. Haldeman made 16-of-20 field goals last season, including 3-of-4 from beyond 40 yards, on a team that couldn’t afford to miss out on points. Schroeder averaged a modest 39.7 yards per punt.

Final Analysis

Fleck strolled into Kalamazoo with plenty of bravado, ignoring critics of his age and his “Row the Boat” mantra. A humbling season did nothing to slow recruiting — Rivals ranked his 2014 class No. 59 nationally, ahead of Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois — or his optimism for the future.

In the short term, Fleck sounds more realistic than a year ago, and more comfortable in his skin, aware that the odds are stacked against a team with only 29 upperclassmen, not enough of them up front on either side of the ball. “It’s a patient process, which in college football isn’t the friendliest process,” he says.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#114 Kent State Golden Flashes

NATIONAL FORECAST

#114

MAC East PREDICTION

#5

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 114 Kent State.

Previewing Kent State’s Offense for 2014:

This unit must show major improvement in order to avoid a second consecutive disappointing season under coach Paul Haynes. In 2013, Kent State ranked 88th nationally in total offense, with injuries and inconsistency often being the culprits. A fresh start in 2014 comes with no promises unless quarterback Colin Reardon makes progress, bruising back Trayion Durham returns to form and a young group of receivers and linemen can fill significant voids.

Reardon was a redshirt freshman last season when he took over for four-year starter Spencer Keith. His numbers (58.9 percent completions, 12 TDs and nine INTs) reflected his inexperience. The job is his again, and Haynes and offensive coordinator Brian Rock believe great strides will be made in 2014.

The 250-pound Durham was slowed by injuries and gained only 766 yards rushing in 2013 after having 1,346 in KSU’s bowl season of 2012. He was limited in spring drills with a foot injury, but the hope is that he will be ready in the fall — and ready to return to his former self.

Reardon will be throwing to receivers Chris Humphrey (No. 1 on the team in catches with 51 for 613 yards) and Josh Boyle (19 for 210 yards) as well as tight end Casey Pierce (33 for 364 yards). William Woods, Kris White and James Brooks lead the list of young prospects.

The line, a major question mark, will be dominated by underclassmen. ­Tackles Terrell Johnson and Jason Bitsko are the only returning starters.

Previewing Kent State’s Defense for 2014:

The departure of the celebrated Roosevelt Nix, a four-time first-team All-MAC tackle, is part of an overhaul of the front line that concerns coordinator Brian George. Nate Terhune and Chris Fairchild will be asked to fill the middle after decent but uneven seasons in 2013. The hope is that end Nate Vance will be healthy by the opener after a shoulder injury limited his time in the spring.

Linebacking should be an area of strength with Matt Dellinger (77 tackles) in the middle and DeVante’ Strickland (53 tackles) on the outside. The development and reliability of Elcee Refuge and Darius Redmond allowed the coaches to move Jordan Italiano (76 tackles) to safety.

With Italiano patrolling the back end, and experienced corners in Dylan Farrington and Malcolm Pannell (who combined for five of the team’s nine interceptions in 2013), there is reason to be optimistic about the secondary. Sophomore transfers Najee Murray (a corner from Ohio State) and Nick Cuthbert (a safety from Georgia Tech) add talent and potential to the mix.

Previewing Kent State’s Specialists for 2014:

Placekickers Anthony Melchiori and Brad Miller are back after combining for 59 points last season. Melchiori (44.5-yard average) returns as one the MAC’s best punters. Much improvement is needed on the return teams, which ranked 110th nationally in punt returns and 118th in kickoff returns last season. Speedy Ernest Calhoun is expected to be the primary threat in those areas.

Final Analysis

No one was quite ready for last year’s fall from grace. The 2012 season was marked by a school-record 11 victories and the first bowl game since 1972. Then coach Darrell Hazell left for Purdue, and Haynes, a former Kent State player, replaced him. With a new quarterback and a new coach, KSU stumbled to a 4–8 record overall and a 3–5 mark in the MAC.

That was a collective shock to the Kent State faithful, and now comes the uncertainty about whether the program just suffered a temporary setback or whether the bad old days of the past are back.

This promises to be an interesting season around the confines of Dix Stadium. Whether it will be a successful one is far from assured.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#104 Buffalo Bulls

NATIONAL FORECAST

#104

MAC East PREDICTION

#4

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 104 Buffalo Bulls.

Previewing Buffalo’s Offense in 2014

The Bulls lost two of the most productive players in school history in tailback Branden Oliver and wide receiver Alex Neutz but return junior quarterback Joe Licata. A local product, Licata threw for 2,824 yards and 24 touchdowns — one shy of the single-season school record — while completing 58 percent of his passes. Licata missed spring practice while recovering from hip surgery, which allowed backup Tony Daniel to get the majority of the snaps.

With Oliver gone, junior Anthone Taylor, who rushed for 399 yards and three touchdowns, becomes the centerpiece of the running game. Junior Devin Campbell moves from slot receiver back to his natural position at tailback, where he provides breakaway speed. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Jordan Johnson, a bruising back who has been slowed by injuries.

Offensive coordinator Alex Wood wants to feature more players in the passing game, so there will be opportunities for some fresh faces at wide receiver. Sophomore Boise Ross is a blur and has the ability to be a quality playmaker after showing flashes as a true freshman. The Bulls hope Devon Hughes rebounds and enjoys a strong senior season, similar to Fred Lee last year.

Licata will be well protected with all five starters returning from an offensive line that is arguably the best in the MAC. The unit is anchored by versatile senior left guard Andre Davis, a starter for 37 consecutive games.

Previewing Buffalo’s Defense in 2014

Years of solid recruiting will help Buffalo survive the sting of losing seven starters on defense. Nevertheless, you can’t lose a player like All-America linebacker Khalil Mack and not expect a significant drop-off. Also gone is four-year starter Colby Way at end. Both ends, in fact, have to be replaced, but nose guard Kristjan Sokoli, who started all 13 games last season, and linebacker Adam Redden, an All-MAC selection, return to the Bulls’ lineup. Veteran defensive coordinator Lou Tepper will lean on both Sokoli and Redden for leadership as the unit matures.

Senior linebacker Lee Skinner has started all 37 games of his career and has ranked second on the team in tackles in each of his first three seasons. In the secondary, Cortney Lester enters his fourth season as a starting cornerback, while Marqus Baker will get the nod at the other corner to replace All-MAC selection Najja Johnson. Witney Sherry was sidelined with an injury last season but will likely start at free safety. Okezie Alozie ranked seventh on the team in tackles with 45 a year ago and is the favorite at strong safety.

The Bulls’ ability to remain among the MAC’s elite will largely depend on how soon a pass rush can be developed.

Previewing Buffalo’s Specialists in 2014

Kicker Patrick Clarke made 13-of-20 field goals and 45-of-48 extra point attempts last season and enters his senior season ranked third in Buffalo history with 29 career field goals. Tyler Grassman averaged 40 yards per punt a year ago with 26 downed inside the 20. Campbell is a feared returner, and Ross has the potential to blossom into one.

Final analysis

Plenty of attention has been paid to Buffalo’s heavy losses to graduation, and perhaps deservedly so, but the return of Licata should be enough to carry the offense. It will be challenging to avoid a projected slide on defense, but a soft schedule in the early season should ease the growing pains. Four of the first five games are at home, including games with two FCS opponents in Duquesne and Norfolk State.

Bowling Green is clearly the team to beat in the MAC East, but the Bulls, if the defense comes through, will have a chance to be a factor once again in the division race.

The start of the college football season is less than 100 days away, and Athlon Sports is counting down the top teams for the upcoming year.Florida State is Athlon’s pick to win the national championship, with Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide projected to finish No. 2 nationally. Of...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#97 Akron Zips

NATIONAL FORECAST

#97

MAC East PREDICTION

#3

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 97 Akron.

Previewing Akron’s Offense for 2014

With a bevy of playmakers returning, the Zips have the potential to field one of the best offenses in the conference. The definitive word here is “potential,” because those skill players must improve if Akron is to avoid its ninth consecutive losing record.

Junior quarterback Kyle Pohl is back for his second year as a starter, but he must do better than 14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 56 percent completion rate. His running mate is senior tailback Jawon Chisholm, who has led the team in rushing for three consecutive years but has never reached the 1,000-yard plateau.

Pohl will throw to a group of experienced receivers, including junior Zach D’Orazio (team-high 42 catches for 567 yards) and 5'6" sophomore speedster Fransohn Bickley (39 catches for 407 yards). A breakout season by some of the talented young receivers, especially highly touted sophomore Mykel Traylor-Bennett, would make Akron even more dangerous.

Of course, much will depend on the play of the line, which has been a problem area in recent years. Third-year coach Terry Bowden and his staff have concentrated on adding depth to the line in recruiting, and there are signs that the emphasis has paid off. Center Travis Switzer and guard Dylan Brumbaugh head the list of returnees, but the other three spots will be handled by former reserves or incoming recruits.

Previewing Akron’s Defense for 2014

The Zips showed vast improvement here, jumping from No. 99 nationally in 2012 to No. 59 in 2013, but they are facing major rebuilding jobs on the front line and the secondary. The only returning starter up front is nose guard Cody Grice. There are plenty of candidates to fill the holes, but they are of unknown quality. A key player here is end Se’Von Pittman, who must put his troubled past at Ohio State behind him.

Both starting cornerbacks will be new, but at least safeties Devonte Morgan, Johnny Robinson and Bre’ Ford are veterans.

The linebacking corps is led by the strong duo of Jatavis Brown (No. 1 in tackles with 107) and Justin March (No. 2 with 80).

If the likes of Pittman, corner Bryce Cheek and linebackers C.J. Mizell and Dylan Evans, among many others, can fill holes, the defense may be a viable complement to the offense.

Previewing Akron’s Specialists for 2014

The Zips kicked the ball capably last season, with returning placekicker Robert Stein and returning punter Zach Paul. But the return teams were abysmal, ranking 111th nationally on kickoff returns and 117th on punt returns. The hope is that the diminutive Bickley can give both areas a major boost.

Final Analysis

Akron made major strides last season with a 5–7 record after winning only six games total in the previous four seasons. A winning season is possible if enough players turn potential into productivity. It helps that the league schedule seems more forgiving than in the recent past.

The offense needs Pohl to make better decisions and be more consistent than he was in 2013. The receiving corps may have put up some decent numbers, but there were far too many drops. A senior-style performance from Chisholm would take some pressure off the passing game.

The feeling around the conference is that the Zips are finally going to have a team befitting the beautiful InfoCision Stadium. The university must feel the same way, because Bowden was awarded a new two-year contract extension through 2018.Bowden has built from the bottom, filled pieces slowly but surely and has a team that might be a surprise.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#95 Ohio Bobcats

NATIONAL FORECAST

#95

MAC East PREDICTION

#2

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 95 Ohio.

Previewing Ohio’s Offense for 2014

After scores of records, the only two bowl wins in the program’s history, and even a brief stay inside the nation’s top 25 in 2012, Ohio turns the page on the Tyler Tettleton era in 2014. The Bobcats’ most accomplished quarterback will be replaced this season by one of two candidates who have waited for their chance the past two years. Junior Derrius Vick has more reps, including a spot start in 2012 on his résumé, and a slight lead going into fall camp. He’ll be pushed by sophomore JD Sprague, a former walk-on who fits the same dual-threat mold.

Ohio has to replace key offensive pieces all over the depth chart. Departed running back Beau Blankenship piled up just under 3,000 yards rushing over the past three years, and the Bobcats now will turn to two largely unproven backs. Junior Daz Patterson averaged 5.6 per carry in spot work in 2013, but he lacks the size to be an every-down, between-the-tackles threat. Senior Tim Edmond, who has also played tight end and linebacker at Ohio, will be the big-back option and handle short-yardage situations. Expect redshirt freshman Dorian Brown, or perhaps incoming freshman Maleek Irons, to get a look as well.

The receiving group is also being rebuilt nearly from scratch. Only senior flanker Chase Cochran (689 receiving yards in 2013) returns from Ohio’s top six pass-catchers of a year ago. Iowa transfer Cam Wilson and slot specialist Landon Smith (hurt for most of 2013) also will be critical. Sophomore Troy Mangen and junior college transfer Brennan Boland are tasked to handle the varied role of Ohio’s tight ends.

The offensive line never got settled a year ago — eight different lineups were used in the first eight games — and the unit will be young again with three juniors and two sophomores in the projected starting five. For the first time in a decade, Ohio will not have a senior in the projected two-deep up front. However, guard Mike Lucas, center Lucas Powell and tackle Mike McQueen all return with two years of experience.

Previewing Ohio’s Defense for 2014

Rebuilding in 2013, Ohio simply wasn’t good enough on this side of the ball to contend for a MAC championship. The Bobcats gave up 4.6 yards per carry, more than 400 yards per game and yielded 34 plays of 30 yards or more.

The good news is that the defense has the potential to be much better. Seven starters return, and Ohio will have solid depth on the line where sophomore ends Tarell Basham and Kurt Laseak and senior tackles Antwan Crutcher and Cameron McLeod lead the way.

The Bobcats have two returning junior linebackers, Ben Russell (middle) and Jovon Johnson (outside), who were important contributors a year ago, when both learned on the fly.

In the secondary, Ohio loses two starters but shouldn’t skip a beat. Senior safeties Josh Kristoff, Thad Ingol and Nate Carpenter each have considerable experience, and junior cornerbacks Devin Bass and Ian Wells have both started games the previous two seasons.

Previewing Ohio’s Specialists for 2014

Junior placekicker Josiah Yazdani was a pleasant find early last season as he solidified that role four weeks into the season and missed just one attempt on the year. Ohio signed junior college transfer Mitch Bonnstetter to help alleviate the problems of the past two seasons with blocked punts or mishandled snaps.

Final Analysis

Ohio has developed into a consistent winner under coach Frank Solich, and with a veteran defense and solid special teams, the Bobcats should again be a contender for a winning season and possible bowl bid. But with a complete rebuild in store for the offense, Ohio will have a tough time contending for a league title in 2014.

The start of the college football season is less than 100 days away, and Athlon Sports is counting down the top teams for the upcoming year.Florida State is Athlon’s pick to win the national championship, with Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide projected to finish No. 2 nationally. Of...

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#79 Ball State Cardinals

NATIONAL FORECAST

#79

MAC West PREDICTION

#3

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 79 Ball State.

Previewing Ball State’s Offense for 2014:

Ball State bid a bittersweet farewell to four-year starting quarterback Keith Wenning, who walked out the door with 11,402 career passing yards, 92 touchdowns and virtually every other passing record in the school’s book. Wenning led the Cardinals to 19 wins the last two seasons and a pair of bowl bids, but Ball State is still searching for its first bowl victory.

Coach Pete Lembo spent the spring searching for Wenning’s successor. Four youngsters shared the snaps in April, but sophomore Ozzie Mann (nine career attempts) and redshirt freshman Jack Milas earned the right to take the fight into fall camp. “It’s Mann slightly ahead of Milas,” Lembo says. “Ozzie had a solid spring. Jack has a big upside to him. He has the playmaker ‘it’ factor. It should be a good battle.”

Ball State also lost three of its top four receivers, including Willie Snead (106 catches, 1,516 yards, 15 TDs) after he opted to turn pro a year early. Look for Jordan Williams (72-1,050-10) to expand on his monstrous sophomore campaign. “He’s poised for a breakout year,” Lembo says. “He’s got a chance to be special.”

With relatively few veterans returning in the passing game, the Cardinals are more than happy to emphasize a running game that features Jahwan Edwards (1,110 yards) and Horactio Banks (595). Edwards already owns the school record with 39 career rushing scores and needs just 697 yards to claim that career mark as well. He has three stalwart linemen, including third-team All-MAC center Jacob Richard, to blaze paths for him.“We would be foolish if we didn’t play to the strengths of the unit,” Lembo says.

Previewing Ball State’s Defense for 2014:

When defensive coordinator Jay Bateman moved to take the same role at Army in the offseason, Lembo jumped at the chance to hire Georgetown head coach Kevin Kelly to replace him. Lembo and Kelly coached together at Dartmouth in 1995 and have been close friends since. “He’s a guy I completely trust,” Lembo says. “The trust factor is huge. He’s brought such a great presence to our defense. He’s tried to simplify a few things so our kids can play fast. I like the way this group is playing right now.”Ball State won’t look significantly different than in years past, though opponents might notice the Cardinals in a few more three-man fronts this fall.

Kelly inherits a strong secondary that features three worthy starters at safety in Brian Jones, Dae’Shaun Hurley and Martez Hester as well as veteran corner Eric Patterson. Second-team All-MAC outside linebacker Ben Ingle ranked third in the league last year with 116 tackles, while sophomore Zack Ryan started every game in the middle last year.

The question marks are along the line as defensive end Nick Miles (five sacks) is the only returning starter. Projected starting nose tackle Carlutorbantu Zaramo injured his knee during spring ball, so he’s not expected to be ready on time.

Previewing Ball State’s Specialists for 2014:

Senior Scott Secor was the top-scoring kicker in the MAC (117 points) last season and drilled 19-of-24 field-goal attempts. Sophomore punter Kyle Schmidt ranked sixth in the league with his 40.9-yard average. The Cardinals must replace splendid returner Jamill Smith and will decide among three different contenders to handle return duties in the fall.

Final Analysis

Northern Illinois is the standard-bearer in the MAC West, but nobody in the division has played the Huskies tougher than Ball State. While the Cardinals might not improve their win total for the fourth time in Lembo’s four years at the helm, they appear positioned to stay in the MAC’s elite for years to come.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#77 Northern Illinois Huskies

NATIONAL FORECAST

#77

MAC West PREDICTION

#2

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 77 Northern Illinois.

Previewing Northern Illinois’ Offense for 2014:

Once known as Tailback U for its string of 1,000-yard rushers, Northern Illinois turned into Quarterback U after the sterling back-to-back careers by Chandler Harnish and Jordan Lynch. The two quarterbacks combined to win the last three MAC MVPs, with Lynch setting a new standard with consecutive MVPs and placing seventh and third, respectively, in the last two Heisman Trophy races.

Replacing the dual-threat Lynch is the main priority for Northern Illinois coach Rod Carey. Lynch, who passed for 2,892 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,920 yards and 23 scores last season, handled the majority of the snaps the last two seasons. The top three candidates — Matt McIntosh, Drew Hare and Western Michigan transfer Anthony Maddie — all bring different elements to the offense. McIntosh, a junior, possesses the most experience, with Hare boasting the best arm and Maddie a mixture of both.

Regardless of the starter at quarterback, the running back corps should help ease the transition. This is the clearly the deepest and most talented position on the team. After rushing for 1,119 yards last season, Cameron Stingily might not even be the featured runner. Akeem Daniels, who sat out last season with a foot injury, is healthy and primed for a big role.

Often overlooked due to Lynch’s big-play ability, the NIU offensive line allowed just 11 sacks in 14 games and helped generate a MAC-best 297.2 yards rushing per game last season. Count on the Huskies running the ball more this upcoming season, though the senior wide receiving tandem of Da’Ron Brown and Tommylee Lewis is polished and dangerous.

Previewing Northern Illinois’ Defense for 2014:

This is a unit currently in the midst of a massive shakeup after losing all four starters on the defensive line and some key pieces in the secondary. A year ago, the Huskies dealt with a similar reconstruction process along the front four, so this won’t be a big issue. There’s plenty of experience along the line, with senior Jason Meehan and junior Perez Ford slated to start at end. Senior nose guard Donovan Gordon will demand double-teams, while tackle Mario Jones played quality minutes last year.

The linebacker group is the strength of the defense, with Jamaal Bass, Boomer Mays and Jamaal Payton forming an athletic and seasoned trio. As the leading returning tackler with 87 stops last season, Bass is a durable playmaker. Mayes, a junior, is ready for a breakout season after tallying 82 tackles last season.

Safety Jimmie Ward, called the “quarterback of the defense” by Carey, will be missed. Marlon Moore was moved from cornerback to safety in the spring.

Previewing Northern Illinois’ Specialists for 2014:

There’s no doubt that the Huskies will miss the clutch kicking of Mathew Sims. Punter Tyler Wedel is the odds-on favorite to take over the placekicking duties, becoming a possible jack-of-all-trades in handling the punting and kickoff jobs.

Final Analysis

After the best two-year run in school history, Northern Illinois faces a daunting task trying to maintain its level of excellence. There should be some early-season growing pains without Lynch’s leadership and big-time production spearheading the offense. Following the season opener, the Huskies hit the road to play at Northwestern, UNLV and Arkansas.

Although NIU is loaded at several offensive positions, most notably at tailback, offensive line and wide receiver, Lynch is tough to replace. Carey is emphasizing the importance of finishing strong, with the Huskies losing their last two games last season and not winning a bowl game in the last two years. Even without Lynch, the Huskies return enough talent to contend in the tough MAC West.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL 2014 PRESEASON TOP 25

#75 Toledo Rockets

NATIONAL FORECAST

#75

MAC West PREDICTION

#1

The 2014 college football season starts on Aug. 27 and continues into mid-January with the first edition of the four-team playoff. Athlon Sports is counting down until kickoff with projections and previews for all 128 FBS teams. Here is our team preview for No. 75 Toledo.

Previewing Toledo’s Offense for 2014:

Toledo has maintained one of the best offensive machines in the MAC ever since it went to the spread more than a decade ago under former coach Tom Amstutz. In 2013, the Rockets were again near the top of the league in scoring (33.0 ppg) and total offense (447.3 ypg). Although it has several skill positions to fill, Toledo is once again loaded with talent and options to charge up its offense.

Sophomore Logan Woodside is the frontrunner to start at quarterback after seeing time in four games as a backup and hitting on 51.2 percent of his passes without an interception. Sophomore Kareem Hunt is the featured back after rolling up 866 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per carry in a supplemental role in 2013 behind 1,100-yard rusher David Fluellen. Filling in for the injured Fluellen, Hunt rushed for more than 100 yards in four of the final five games.

The strength and experience of the Toledo offense is up front, where four starters return. All-MAC guard Greg Mancz is a pro prospect who leads the group, along with fellow returning starters Jeff Myers at guard and Josh Hendershot and Chase Nelson at tackle. The group allowed just six sacks in 12 games last year, best in the conference.

The receiving corps is rich in talent and speed, led by junior Alonzo Russell, who has had 115 catches over the past two seasons. Seniors Dwight Macon and Justin Olack are steady performers. Junior Kishon Wilcher adds explosive speed.

Previewing Toledo’s Defense for 2014:

With six returning all-conference players among the 10 regulars coming back on this side of the ball, the Rockets should be a stronger defensive unit in 2014 and improve on the 421.8 yards allowed per game last season. Toledo has five of its top six tacklers returning, led by senior linebacker Junior Sylvestre.

The crew up front is deep, with a dozen players possessing a shot at making the rotation. The athleticism of the unit should allow it to pressure the quarterback in the same manner the Rockets did in 2013, when they recorded 34 sacks in 12 games. All-conference tackle Treyvon Hester anchors the middle. Senior Ray Bush and junior Allen Covington will man the ends, with junior college transfer Tre James also a part of the plan.

Sylvestre joins experienced juniors Trent Voss and Chase Murdock in a strong linebacking unit. The Rockets have nine defensive backs with experience, but when the sorting out is completed, look for seniors Cheatham Norrils and Cameron Cole to man the corners, with help from sophomore Jordan Martin. Senior Jordan Haden leads the group at safety.

Previewing Toledo’s Specialists for 2014:

Senior Jeremiah Detmer is one of the nation’s most accurate placekickers, currently working a streak in which he’s hit 36-of-37 field goals. Sophomore Nick Ellis looks to replace four-year starter Vince Penza at punter. Speedster Wilcher leads a deep return corps.

Final Analysis

Toledo has 17 starters back to work on purging the sour taste left from last season, when the Rockets went 7–5 overall and missed playing in a bowl game for the first time since 2009. The schedule is not easy; the Rockets play Missouri, Cincinnati and Iowa State in non-conference action and host Bowling Green, the defending league champs, from the MAC East.

Toledo has a wealth of experience and talent along its offensive front and at linebacker, but the Rockets will be featuring a new starter at quarterback — always a dangerous proposition. If Woodside emerges as viable playmaker and the defense improves, the Rockets should be right back in the MAC East title picture.